Bible study · Matthew 6:1-34
Matthew 6: In secret
Read Matthew 6:1-34 before you meet.
In a few lines
Jesus says the same thing three times, of giving, praying and fasting: the hypocrites "have received their reward" (6:2, 6:5, 6:16), but "your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (6:4, 6:6). The prayer he gives comes between the second and the third (6:9-13). And his words on prayer and on being anxious give the same reason: your Father knows what you need (6:8, 6:32).
The verse to carry
“But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
To talk about
1. "your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (6:6). What helps you pray when no one but your Father sees?
2. "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors" (6:12). What makes forgiving someone hard, and what helps you do it?
3. "But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness" (6:33). What could seeking his Kingdom first look like in an ordinary day this week?